The Kent State Athletic Department announced early this afternoon Glen Conley will no longer be the head coach of the Kent State volleyball team.

Conley has served as the head volleyball coach for the Flashes since 2007, posting a 74-83 overall record and 32-48 record in the Mid-American Conference in that time.

Kent State Athletic Director Joel Nielsen said it was Conley’s losing records that prompted the decision to make a coaching change.

“After conducting a comprehensive evaluation of the program’s performance, the standard of excellence set forth by Kent State athletics has not been achieved,” Nielsen said in a statement released by the Kent State Athletic Department. “Therefore, I felt at this time that it is in our best interest to make a change in leadership. I wish Glen the best in his future endeavors.”

In Conley’s five years at Kent State, the Flashes have never finished better than third in the MAC. Nielsen said he hopes the new head volleyball coach they hire to replace Conley will make the Flashes a more competitive team in the MAC.

“The Mid-American Conference is one of the best women’s volleyball leagues in the entire nation having sent four teams to the NCAA Tournament last season,” Nielsen said in a statement released by the Kent State Athletic Department. “Our goals are to improve our competitiveness and get to a point where we are considered one the top programs in the conference while continuing to produce high quality student-athletes.”

The Kent State Athletic Department stated it will begin a national search for a new head volleyball coach immediately. Volleyball is the second sport with an opening at head coach as the Kent State Athletic Department announced March 14 it would also not renew Bob Lindsay’s contract as the head coach of the women’s basketball team.